"It's a special award and an honor for me. But I say to myself that I'm just too young to have that prize named after me. But I think in just a few years time the prize will be renamed after Roger Federer, because he's already got it so many times..." - Stefan Edberg on the Sportsmanship Award. Read the interview

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Stefan Edberg on court during a tennis clinic with Indian kids in Mumbai earlier this month

World number 1 Roger Federer is still uncertain whether to play or not on clay, but former coach Stefan Edberg is convinced he should skip the French Open build-up season like in 2017. "He has to make the decision like he did last year. He has to think about having enough breaks so he can recover and be hungry for the big ones," said Stefan from Mumbai, during his recent visit to India, interviewed by Rediff.com

Stefan Edberg during one of the interviews he had a the Times of India Sports Awards

Mumbai. Former World No.1 and Tennis legend Stefan Edberg was in Mumbai for theMahindra Scorpio Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) and was the mentor for the third edition in 2018. From being Roger Federer's coach between 2013 and 2015, to being a six-time Grand Slam champion, Stefan Edberg discussed the rise of sport in India and his time with the 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer.

The significance of events like TOISA (Times of India Sports Awards) and you being the mentor this year

Sports awards, in general, feels good when we get-together and meet personalities from different sports and the sportsmen and women get recognised and felicitated for their achievements. I'm honoured and happy to be here as this is my second visit but it has come after many years. I'm happy to promote tennis here in India.

A few years ago, Stefan Edberg used to regret the disappearing of serve and volley in every interview. Coaches and analysts answered smiling and shrugging their shoulders in disbelief, saying tennis has changed over the years, surfaces are slower today, racquets are bigger and more precise and give baseline players a huge advantage against the volleyers.

Now Roger Federer, newly crowned Wimbledon champion for a record 8th time after a two-year partnership with Edberg, is repeating the same mantra as his former coach. More, he connects the lack of style variety and poor volley skills to the gap that still separates the new generation from the top level of men’s tennis.

“I have played almost every player here that wouldn’t serve and volley, - Roger said about his Wimbledon opponents in the media conference the day after his triumph. “It’s frightening to me, to see this at this level. I look at the stats and go into whichever round it is and see that the guy I’m going to face is playing 2 per cent of serve and volley throughout the championships. I’m going, ‘OK, I know he’s not going to serve and volley’, which is great.”

Stefan Edberg and Anders Järryd were defeated 6-3 by Dustin Brown and Tommy Haas in the one-set doubles exhibition in Båstad that marked Stefan's return to played tennis after more than three years.

The challenge between Sweden and the Rest of Europe ended on 1-1, since the team Wilander/Pernfors had defeated Frenchmen Forget/Pioline 6-4 on Monday.

Unfortunately, the event wasn't televised and there's no video of Stefan's performance available on Youtube or anywhere else for the moment.

Boris Becker, who was also supposed to take part in the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Swedish Open and appear during the exhibition as coach of the German team, wasn't in Båstad instead and was replaced on the bench of the Germans by Ilie Nastase.

Earlier today, the Facebook page of the Swedish Open shared some fantastic high-definition pictures of the exhibition. Some others were kindly shared by Birte P. (@Sommarsverige on Twitter).

Sweden has had three players listed as the world's best - legends that evoke sweet memories in the first days of the Swedish Open.

Björn Borg, Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg have all been world number ones. If you put them along with Anders Järryd and Mikael Pernfors you get a total of 35 Grand Slam titles. Precious tennis nobility that brings together much of the history of Swedish tennis. Players who have an obvious place at the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Swedish Open.

"It all started when I contacted Bjorn (Borg), and he was excited to be involved. Then came Wilander and Edberg and I was very enthusiastic," says tournament director Christer Hult.

After the Wimbledon final won by Roger Federer against Marin Cilic, Stefan Edberg was reached by Phil Jones of BBC Sport who recorded his view about Federer's amazing run at SW 19.

Stefan highlighted the Swiss' fantastic year so far, with just two matches lost in the season, two Major tournaments won and an 8th Wimbledon crown taken without losing a set. "He did the right choice, we have the answers now," Stefan said about Federer's decision to skip the entire season on clay to save energy and be at his best for the fortnight of the Championships.

"When you take two months off you take a little bit of a risk, but he was calculating that he was going to do well on grass, he was going to get a few matches before the tournament and it turned out to be the right decision."

Stefan was also asked about the greatest of all time topic: "I've never seen Rod Laver play, but Roger is the greatest in my eyes. He's so special in many ways... He's won here eight times, he's done well on all the surfaces, he's wonderful to watch, he's got so much talent and it’s always worth coming out to watch him because you always know there’s going to be some unbelievable shots out there." (mc)

After the two finals lost with Stefan Edberg in his corner always against Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer took his long chased 8th Wimbledon title today, beating Marin Cilic in a straight-set final.

Affected by a slight physycal problem since the end of the first set, the Croat could do little to avoid an easy 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 defeat, allowing Federer to become the oldest man win the Championships in the Open Era.

Just as he left the Centre Court after the trophy presentation, Federer met Stefan Edberg who congratulated him whith a strong, deeply felt hug and also had the privilege to hold once again that cup, 27 years after his second triumph at SW19. (mc)

Stefan Edberg had wonderful variation on his backhand and Times readers have spoken: the six-times grand slam winner has won the vote for best backhand in tennis history.

The Swede, who twice won Wimbledon, swept 43 per cent of the vote holding off competition from Stan Wawrinka, who was backed by 34 per cent of voters. Other nominees Andre Agassi (13 per cent), Andy Murray (nine per cent) and Garbiñe Muguruza (one per cent) were left trailing.

Edberg’s backhand was nominated by Boris Becker, the six-times grand slam champion who faced Edberg in no fewer than four grand-slam finals, and many of the voters were in agreement with the German.

Times reader Lucy Hickmet wrote at the thetimes.co.uk: "Aesthetically, Edberg had the nicest backhand I have ever seen, and to Becker’s point, he had a lot of variations, including touch shots such as the lob."

After the problems they both had last year, the Swiss and the Spaniard have become the top two favourites at Wimbledon. Just like ten years ago, when they met in their second of three successive finals at the Championships.

“No one thought they'd be here today. But it's great for the sport that they are still hanging at the top. There are no better ambassadors for tennis,” continued Stefan, who appeared last Tuesday in Roger Federer’s box on Centre Court to watch part of the Swiss’ first round match against Dolgopolov.

For the sixth year in a row, Stefan Edberg has appeared at Wimbledon yesterday, when he was hosted in Roger Federer's box to watch the Swiss' first round match against Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Unfortunately, there was not so much to see for Stefan. He entered the Centre Court at the end of the first set, sitting behind Roger's wife Mirka and next to his mother Lynette, and only three games later Dolgopolov retired injured, handing the 7-time champion his 85th singles match win at the Championships and an easy pass for the second round.